Fumbalinas Spring/Summer 2016​The Collection:Statement accessories with a kawaii kick! The newest collection from the Fumbalinas range explores a series of feminine statement pieces and iridescent wonders. Available online at fumbalinas.co.uk, pieces range from one off creations to ready to made to order items.

Jodie CartmanThe Designer, Maker:Fumbalinas: A one-woman operation using an amalgamation of styles to create a range of couture head wear and accessories. Rooted in the fantastical and the flamboyant, a Fumbalinas garment always consists of an elegant edge and a touch of the surreal. Fumbalinas chooses to re-use and recycle objects from the antique, obsolete and every day, breathing new life into old curiosities as she weaves them into the intricate designs of her collections. As well as her own seasonal collections, Jodie creates commissioned pieces for any occasion as well as providing workshops for events, private parties and corporations, the latest event having taken place at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

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Jodie Cartman (AKA Fumbalinas) is a performer turned milliner, fashion designer and workshop tutor. Her seasonal collections and collaborative pieces celebrate the use of sustainable and recyclable textiles and toys with the manipulation of traditional methods of practice and technique. Collaborations of recent works include campaigns for designers Jane Bowler and Phiney Pet in their shows at both London and Paris Fashion Weeks 2015. Jodie also works as a textiles tutor, most recently for London's Royal Academy of Arts and forthcoming at Aberdeen's Art museum. Jodie's work has been featured in the likes of UK Vogue, Italia online, ID magazine and continues to engage audiences with its unique aesthetic and approach to the fashion world. Visit the website. here. You can also find Fumbalinas on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Please direct press inquiries here.

we recently stumbled upon a beautiful corner of the internet, housing sylvaine's creations. a talented jewellery maker, illustrator and craftswoman, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask her some questions, as well as to share some of our favourite pieces (pictured above) with you. sylvaine is from france, but can currently be found in brighton & hove participating in a jewellery workshop that opens its doors to the public every weekend in may. she can be found online at http://sylvaineart.com/​.

there is something whimsical and fairy tale-like about your jewellery. we're incredibly charmed by it. where do you seek inspiration for the visuals?i often use designs that bring people back to their childhood and make them dream and smile. i like to associate organic shapes with geometric lines. themes of nature and sea inspire me, especially the small details. i see faces in everything and they appear a lot in my work. it makes it more precious in a way because some pieces seem to have a soul. my imagination is definitely the most important thing in my creations. i generally find new ideas bloom late at night or while doodling in my sketchbooks.

what are your favourite materials to work with?i love working with silver - the metal can be transformed using a variety of techniques, so the possibilities are endless. it's also a pleasure to work with wood once in a while - carving with chisels into a piece of yew is such a different feel. it's great to go from one medium to the other.

we understand that there are multiple processes and skill sets that factor into jewellery-making. what is the most difficult skill you've mastered?i use engraving in a lot of my designs. it's a meticulous process that requires patience and practice, but also the right tools; a very sharp engraving tool is essential and the help of a microscope makes the work much easier.

what does your perfect work day look like?i love working on brand new designs. watching a fresh idea transform into a 3d object is amazing. i work alongside other freelance jewellers, so it's nice to to be able to exchange ideas and interact with other creative minds. i also like to have good music in the background and chocolate is a great bonus!

you make jewellery, do illustrations and create some pretty whimsical crafts. where did you learn all of these arts?from the age of fifteen, i focused on art and design subjects in school, which helped me to develop my imagination and my own identity. at eighteen, i entered a graphic design and illustrations school in nantes, but quickly realized i was more interested in craft. i discovered jewellery, which combined a lot of my interests, bringing creative and technical work together. i decided to enter a professional school of jewellery and silversmithing in brittany. i knew instantly that it was the perfect work for me.

​what inspires you to keep creating?since i created my own brand in 2010, i have hoped to bring jewellery and illustration together, creating objects that tell stories. later on i discovered wood work as a way to combine them. ideas are endless. i also love creating bespoke jewel-objects from someone else's perspective - it's great to know my creations will become a sentimental object with a real meaning. (click here to see a video of sylvaine's jewellery and jewel objects coming alive.)